Review: Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake, Birmingham Hippodrome
It’s been 30 years since Matthew Bourne caused a storm in the dance world by replacing the traditional serene and graceful corps-de-ballet with a hissing, powerful and menacing male ensemble in his groundbreaking re-invention of the classic Swan Lake ballet.
The iconic white feather breeches of the feral gang of swans are now an accepted alternative to the traditional tutus but the vein of rebellion in the production by Bourne’s New Adventures pulsates as strongly as ever.
The secret of keeping the by-now familiar version of the classic ballet fresh is Bourne’s subtle tinkering, while retaining the sharp and witty style which exemplifies his work.
The sinister and sexually-charged undertone of the production is punctuated with wit, humour and pathos, crossing boundaries between classical and contemporary dance.
Bourne’s choreography is both earnest and fun, frenzied and fanciful.
One highlight is the very funny parody of a butterfly ballet where the antics of the prince's girlfriend – which include her mobile phone ringing – cause embarrassment to his frosty mother and snooty courtiers.
Jackson Fisch excels as the swan/stranger – oozing insolence, arrogance and a magnetic charm – the perfect foil for the vulnerability of Stephen Murray's affection-starved Prince who is driven mad by his obsession with the swan and his craving for acceptance.
There are also impressive performances by Ashley Shaw as the cold-hearted, haughty but flirtatious queen and Bryony Wood as the prince's ditzy but good-natured girlfriend, who provides much of the humour in the production.
But it's the brooding, hissing, stomping, savage swans who command the spotlight and drive the story to its crescendo. Their performance is breathtaking.
The storytelling through drama as well as dance is inspiring and underpinning the action is, of course, Tchaikovsky’s wonderfully-familiar score.
Lez Brotherston's costume designs and sets are striking – from the seedy nightclub and opera house to the royal ball and prince's bedroom, while credit also goes to lighting designer Paule Constable for the use of shadows to set the mood.
First staged at Sadler’s Wells in London in 1995, Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake became the longest running full-length dance classic in the West End and on Broadway and won numerous international accolades.
Bourne points out in his programme note, that this latest version of the production is “the first revival of Swan Lake where all our principal dancers have come up through the ranks of New Adventures on other productions, as we nurture their talents as leading artists ready to take on such iconic and demanding roles.”
Their enthusiasm and energy makes for a magnificent night at the theatre and has surely achieved its aim of inspiring the next generation of dancers while also delighting loyal fans.
And endorsement of the production's enduring appeal came in a unanimous standing ovation on the opening night at Birmingham Hippodrome. Three decades on and this thrilling production remains a soaring success.
Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake runs at Birmingham Hippodrome until February 15. To book tickets visit www.birminghamhippodrome.com.
